About Health Planning, Policies & Problems in India
This unit traces India’s health journey from the Bhore Committee Report (1946) to the National Health Policy 2017 and the ongoing Ayushman Bharat Mission. It is one of the most analytical and current-affairs-friendly topics in GNM and B.Sc Community Health Nursing, blending history, policy, planning cycles and the stubborn public-health problems India still faces.
Why Health Planning Matters to Every Nurse
Every programme that reaches a village sub-centre — JSY, JSSK, RBSK, Mission Indradhanush, National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) — was once a policy document on a planner’s desk. A nurse who understands who writes these policies, how targets are decided and how funds flow from the Centre to the panchayat is far better equipped to implement them. Universities keep testing this unit precisely because it builds that bridge between theory and field work.
Three Pillars of This Chapter
- Planning — Five-Year Plans (now replaced by NITI Aayog’s 3-year Action, 7-year Strategy and 15-year Vision), health committees (Bhore, Mudaliar, Chadah, Mukherjee, Jungalwala, Kartar Singh, Shrivastav), and major commissions.
- Policies — National Health Policy 1983, 2002, 2017; National Population Policy 2000; National Nutrition Policy; National Mental Health Policy 2014.
- Problems — Communicable diseases, Non-communicable diseases, environmental sanitation gaps, medical-care access inequity, and population pressures.
Explore powerful insights on health planning, policies, and problems in India—clear and concise nursing notes for GNM and B.Sc Community Health Nursing students.
📚 Unit Index Table: Health Planning, Policies, and Problems
| INDEX |
|---|
| Health Planning in India |
| Contributions of Various Committees and Commissions on Health |
| Health Committees |
| Health Commissions |
| National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) |
| Summary of Investment During Annual and Five-Year Plans |
| Central Council for Health and Family Welfare |
| National Health Policy 1983 |
| National Health Policy (NHP) 2002 |
| National Population Policy 2000 |
| National Health Problems in India |
| ▪ Communicable Disease Problems |
| ▪ Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Problems |
| ▪ Environmental Sanitation Problems |
| ▪ Medical Care Problems |
| ▪ Population Problems |
Exam-Weighted Takeaways
- Bhore Committee (1946) gave India its 3-tier health infrastructure — always a short-note question.
- NHP 2017 targets: raise public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP; reduce U-5 mortality to 23/1,000 live births.
- NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission on 1 January 2015.
- Triple burden of disease — communicable, non-communicable, injuries — a frequent essay prompt.
- Compare Alma-Ata declaration (1978) with Astana declaration (2018).
Boost your preparation with our timeline charts of all health committees and ready-made comparison tables of NHP 1983 vs 2002 vs 2017.
Sources & References: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare — National Health Policy 2017; NITI Aayog three-year Action Agenda; K. Park, Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine.
COURSES
Educational Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided for educational and informational purposes only, aimed at students and faculty in Nursing, Medical, Paramedical, and allied Health Science programmes. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and must not replace guidance from a qualified physician, nurse, or licensed healthcare professional.
While we review all content carefully and align it with recognised syllabi (INC, RGUHS, state nursing councils), medical knowledge evolves rapidly. Always verify clinical procedures, drug doses, and protocols against your institution's current guidelines before applying them in patient care.
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